Operations Manager

Band Grade : 4-17 Annual Wage Range: $  - $ Other Compensation:  Eligibility for the Short-Term Incentive program and other applicable bonuses Benefits: U.S. Employee Benefits Summary () Grace, a Standard Industries company, is a leading global supplier of catalysts, engineered materials and fine chemicals. We provide innovative products, technologies and services which our customers use to manufacture everyday products like renewable fuels, pharmaceuticals, toothpaste, cosmetics, food packaging, beer, edible oils and more.

Our thousands of employees help shape a better future at our global headquarters in Columbia, MD and locations worldwide.

Job Description W.R. Grace operates a comprehensive manufacturing plant and a technical and analytical services center in the Curtis Bay area of Baltimore.  The company's largest facility at nearly a million square feet, Curtis Bay consists of 10 production plants that manufacture hundreds of products from four product lines: fluid cracking catalysts, hydroprocessing catalysts, polyolefin catalysts, and silicas.  With approximately 600 employees, Grace is a significant employer in the Curtis Bay area.  

More than half of the products manufactured there are exported at a value of approximately $150 million annually. All employees at the Curtis Bay actively participate in environment, health and safety and play an integral role in achieving compliance with our EHS policy including emergency preparedness and response as defined in site-wide and local area documentation.

We’re hiring an Operations Manager to support one of our business units at our Curtis Bay/Baltimore, MD manufacturing site. As an Operations Manager you will ensure the safe and efficient 24/7 operations. You will report to Site Operations Director and be a member of the Operations Leadership Team. In addition, you will have a team of 20-25 direct reports, to include operations leaders, supervisors, production engineers and maintenance planners and be responsible for coaching and development.

This role combines both technical and leadership expertise along with collaborating with multiple functions together to solve problems safely and effectively.

Responsibilities Lead manufacturing employees and a technical team to safely operate the plant and meet production, quality, safety, health, environmental, and cost goals in a 24/7 environment while complying with Federal, State, Local, Grace and Union policies.

Model a mindset and behavior of safe work practices and use of critical life safety rules in everything.  Anticipate scenarios which increase safety or production risks, such as winter weather or equipment failure.  Develop action plans to mitigate these risks.

Ensure resources and plans are in place to cover plant shutdowns, Job Hazard Analyses and support for off-shifts. Oversee the investigation program and root cause analyses for production losses or safety incidents and ensure proper actions are in place. Actively support production troubleshooting with technical and leadership skills. Effectively and timely escalate issues to the Site Operations Director.

Manage the engagement, performance and development of a team of direct reports and indirect reports. Hire, onboard, train, develop and coach direct reports according to Grace policies and management practices.  Maintain a positive working environment, resolve personnel conflicts and serve as a sounding board.

Participate in the asset management process including key inputs such as:
Capacity, resources, shutdown schedules, and plant trials.

Continuously review the compliance with respect to production, yields, and fixed costs and reports on variances

Support both site and business leadership in develop overall strategies, annual operating plan and other business plans.

Champion the capital program for the assigned plant with input on priorities and scope.

Physical Requirements and Environment Ability to follow safety protocols and standards working in a pilot plant facility with highly hazardous materials
Ability to work in a high hazard environment, including adverse weather conditions, elevated spaces, confined spaces, extreme temperatures, and noisy surroundings.
Must be able to stand, walk, sit, climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, and climb stairs and ladders over 100 ft.
Must be willing to wear PPE (Personal Protective equipment) including but not limited to hard hat, protective eyewear, steel-toed boots, hearing protection, Level A suit, full face…